Laymans for Litigation Financiers & Legal Funders
Stop spending weeks on due diligence. Laymans delivers pre-organized cases with structured documentation, AI-assisted case evaluation, and real-time portfolio tracking - all in one platform.
Whether you're a litigation finance firm, legal fund administrator, or institutional investor in legal claims - Laymans connects you directly to cases that need capital while providing the documentation infrastructure to make funding decisions efficiently.
Quick Start for Funders
Ready to start funding cases?
- Set Up Your Organization - Create your fund profile
- Advertise Your Case Fund - List your funding criteria
- Search for Cases - Find investment opportunities
Why Litigation Financiers Choose Laymans
Traditional case sourcing is broken. You spend weeks requesting documents, organizing files, and trying to understand the case story from scattered emails and inconsistent formatting. Laymans eliminates that friction.
The Laymans Advantage
| Traditional Process | Laymans Platform |
|---|---|
| Request documents via email over weeks | Instant access to organized casefiles |
| Manually review scattered PDFs | AI-tagged documents by legal value and issue area |
| No visibility into case progress | Real-time updates and case tracking |
| Limited applicant pool | Access to both pro se litigants and represented clients |
| High diligence costs per case | Standardized documentation reduces review time |
| Opaque case quality | Community vetting through salutes and pledges |
The result: You review more cases faster, fund better opportunities, and monitor your portfolio with transparency.
How Case Funding Works on Laymans
Laymans provides two pathways for funding cases:
1. Create a Case Fund (Institutional Funders)
Best for: Established litigation finance firms, legal defense funds, and institutional investors.
Advertise your funding criteria publicly and receive applications from litigants actively seeking capital. Your Case Fund profile includes:
- Funding parameters - Grant vs. loan, funding amounts, practice areas, case types
- Application requirements - What documentation you need to evaluate cases
- Approval workflow - Review applications, request additional materials, approve/deny funding
- Portfolio dashboard - Track all funded cases and receive automated updates
How to set up your Case Fund
- Create your Organization profile - Establish credibility
- Advertise your Case Fund - Define criteria and launch
- Review applications - Litigants apply with organized casefiles attached
- Fund approved cases - Capital flows through Laymans payment infrastructure
- Receive updates - Automatic notifications when funded cases progress
Start now: How to Advertise Your Case Fund
See it from the applicant side: How Applicants Apply to Case Funds
2. Direct Investment in Campaigns (Individual Funders)
Best for: Angel investors, smaller funds, and litigation finance professionals exploring opportunities.
Browse active fundraising campaigns and invest directly in cases that match your thesis. Each campaign includes:
- Case summary - Narrative explaining the dispute (without revealing strategy)
- Funding goal - Transparent budget for legal services
- Associated casefile - Access to organized evidence and documentation
- Real-time progress - Updates from litigants and their attorneys
- Refund protection - Unused funds automatically returned to investors
Why Campaigns Are Pre-Vetted
Campaigns on Laymans require:
- Active Case on the platform (AI-generated legal documents)
- Organized Casefile with evidence
- Public profile with community engagement (salutes, pledges, contributions)
This self-selection means you see cases where litigants are already organized and committed.
Start now: Search for Active Campaigns
The Due Diligence Infrastructure
Laymans is built around Casefiles - secure containers for all case-related evidence. This structure dramatically reduces your diligence time.
What You Get Access To
When you review a case on Laymans, you see:
| Document Type | What It Contains | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Casefiles | Evidence, contracts, correspondence, court filings, photos, videos | Pre-organized by litigant; no need to request scattered docs |
| AI Tags | Automated issue area classification and legal value scoring | Filter cases by practice area and merit instantly |
| Court Records | UniCourt integration for docket lookup | Verify public court filings directly from the platform |
| Case Documents | AI-generated demand letters, complaints, contracts | See the litigant's legal arguments already structured |
| Campaign History | Pledge activity, community support, updates | Gauge case viability through community validation |
AI-Powered Case Analysis
Every casefile uploaded to Laymans is automatically analyzed:
- Legal issue area - Employment, housing, civil rights, contracts, torts, etc.
- Legal value - Algorithmic assessment of evidentiary strength
- Document type - Receipts, notices, agreements, filings, evidence
How AI tagging saves you time
Instead of manually reading every document to understand a case:
- Filter by practice area (e.g., "employment discrimination")
- Review AI-tagged high-value evidence first
- Focus diligence on cases with complete documentation
- Skip cases with weak evidentiary foundations
Result: You evaluate 5x more cases in the same time frame.
Learn more: What is a Casefile?
Portfolio Management & Case Tracking
Once you fund a case on Laymans, you maintain visibility throughout the lifecycle.
Real-Time Case Updates
Funded cases provide automatic notifications when:
- Legal services are purchased using your capital
- New evidence is added to casefiles
- Case documents are finalized or filed
- Settlement negotiations begin
- Court deadlines approach
Financial Transparency
Track your capital deployment:
- Pledges vs. conversions - Campaign pledges only convert when services are purchased
- Service invoices - See exactly how funded capital is spent
- Unused funds - Automatic refunds if case settles early or funding goal not met
- Expense tracking - View all legal fees and expenses
Communication Channels
Stay connected to funded cases:
- Campaign updates - Litigants write progress reports for supporters
- Video conferences - Join case strategy meetings
- Comment sections - Ask questions directly on casefiles or campaigns
- Attorney collaboration - Connect with representing counsel when cases are represented
Finding High-Quality Cases
Laymans provides multiple discovery pathways for funders:
Search & Filter by Investment Criteria
Use advanced filters to narrow opportunities:
- Filter by issue area - Employment, housing, civil rights, etc.
- Localize to specific jurisdictions - Target favorable venues
- Search for specific case types - Discrimination, breach of contract, torts
- Sort by funding goal - Match your check size to case budgets
- Filter by representation status - Pro se vs. attorney-represented
Community Validation Signals
Laymans users signal case quality through engagement:
| Signal | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Salutes | Users mark content as helpful/accurate | Community-vetted documentation quality |
| Pledges | Direct financial support from other users | Social proof of case merit |
| Comments | Community discussion on casefiles | Crowdsourced case analysis and tips |
| Bookmarks | Attorneys save case resources | Professional validation of usefulness |
Quality Over Quantity
Not all cases on Laymans seek funding. Focus on:
- Cases with active campaigns and organized casefiles
- Litigants with community engagement (contributions, salutes)
- Cases with attorney representation already secured
- Campaigns with transparent, realistic funding goals
Start searching: Conducting Your First Search
Working with Different Case Types
Laymans supports diverse litigation funding opportunities:
Pro Se Litigants
Why fund them:
- High-merit cases that can't afford traditional counsel
- Community-validated through platform engagement
- Often willing to accept non-recourse or contingency terms
- Less sophisticated = potential for higher returns
Due diligence advantages:
- Direct communication with plaintiff
- Complete control over service selection
- Transparent budgeting (see exact service costs in marketplace)
- Can require attorney representation as funding condition
Attorney-Represented Cases
Why fund them:
- Professional case management and strategy
- Attorney risk assessment already performed
- Structured legal budgets and timelines
- Counsel can manage campaign updates and documentation
Due diligence advantages:
- Attorney reputation and track record visible
- Legal analysis already conducted
- Professional documentation standards
- Direct communication with counsel via platform
Movement-Affiliated Cases
Why fund them:
- Potential for landmark precedent and systemic impact
- Multiple cases bundled around single legal issue
- Shared resources reduce per-case costs
- Organized advocacy and media attention
Due diligence advantages:
- Vetted by movement organizers (attorneys, nonprofits)
- Shared legal research and expert witnesses
- Coordinated litigation strategy across cases
- High visibility and public interest
Learn more: How to Apply to a Movement
Advertise Your Funding Opportunity
Passive deal flow isn't enough. Laymans lets you actively market your Case Fund to attract applications.
Your Case Fund Profile Includes:
- Fund description - Your mission, practice areas, and funding thesis
- Funding criteria - Case types you accept, jurisdictions, funding amounts
- Application requirements - What documents/information you need to evaluate
- Approval timeline - How long applicants can expect to wait
- Contact information - Direct communication for questions
Where Your Fund Appears:
- Homepage search results - When litigants search for funding
- Campaign creation flow - Suggested to users starting fundraising campaigns
- Case Fund directory - Dedicated section for all active funds
- Organization profiles - Users can follow your fund for updates
Build Your Brand on Laymans
Create a robust organization profile:
- Post educational seminars about what cases you fund
- Comment on high-quality casefiles to signal your interests
- Share resources and templates for strong applications
- Build reputation through transparent, fast funding decisions
Result: Better applicants self-select into your pipeline.
Start now: Advertise Your Case Fund
Payment Infrastructure & Security
How Funding Flows
Laymans uses a secure payment infrastructure powered by Stripe:
- Pledge/Application - Litigant applies to your fund or campaign
- Review - You evaluate the case using platform documentation
- Approval - You approve funding (grant/loan terms negotiated)
- Escrow - Funds held in Laymans payment system
- Service purchase - Litigant uses funds to purchase legal services
- Conversion - Capital flows to service provider
- Unused funds - Automatically returned to funder if case settles/completes
Learn more: How to Use Stripe with Laymans
Data Security & Encryption
Litigant data is sensitive. Laymans provides:
- End-to-end encryption - All casefiles encrypted at rest
- Access controls - Litigants control who sees private casefiles
- Verification services - Document authenticity and originality checks
- Secure video conferencing - Built-in encrypted meetings
- Public records access - Verify case facts through official sources
Types of Funding You Can Offer
Laymans supports multiple capital structures:
Grants (Non-Recourse)
- Best for: Nonprofit legal funds, foundations, social impact investors
- Structure: Provide capital with no repayment expectation
- Use case: High-merit cases with low recovery likelihood, public interest litigation
- Laymans benefit: Tax-deductible donations, community goodwill, mission impact tracking
Loans (Recourse)
- Best for: Commercial litigation finance firms
- Structure: Provide capital with repayment terms (interest, origination fees)
- Use case: Commercial disputes, employment cases, high-probability recoveries
- Laymans benefit: Transparent repayment tracking, automatic collections via platform
Contingency/Revenue Share
- Best for: Litigation investors seeking equity-like returns
- Structure: Fund case in exchange for percentage of recovery
- Use case: Personal injury, class actions, large commercial disputes
- Laymans benefit: Settlement tracking, automatic payment splits
Hybrid Structures
- Best for: Creative capital providers
- Structure: Grants with success bonuses, forgivable loans, sliding-scale repayment
- Use case: Cases with uncertain timelines or recovery amounts
- Laymans benefit: Flexible payment infrastructure, custom agreements
Common Funder Workflows
Workflow 1: Institutional Fund Setup
| Step | Action | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Create organization profile | 30 minutes |
| 2 | Set up Stripe account | 1 hour |
| 3 | Advertise Case Fund | 20 minutes |
| 4 | Review applications as they arrive | Ongoing |
| 5 | Fund approved cases | 5 minutes per case |
| 6 | Monitor portfolio via dashboard | Weekly |
Workflow 2: Direct Campaign Investment
| Step | Action | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Create free account | 5 minutes |
| 2 | Search for active campaigns | 10 minutes |
| 3 | Filter by practice area and location | 2 minutes |
| 4 | Review casefile documentation | 30 minutes per case |
| 5 | Make pledge to campaign | 3 minutes |
| 6 | Receive updates as case progresses | Automatic |
Workflow 3: Movement Portfolio Funding
| Step | Action | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Search for Movements | 15 minutes |
| 2 | Review movement goals and affiliated cases | 1 hour |
| 3 | Contact movement organizer | 30 minutes |
| 4 | Negotiate bulk funding terms | Variable |
| 5 | Fund multiple cases through movement | 10 minutes |
| 6 | Receive consolidated updates | Weekly |
Due Diligence Checklist for Funders
Before funding a case on Laymans, evaluate:
Case Merit & Documentation
- [ ] Casefile contains organized, complete evidence
- [ ] AI tags indicate strong legal value
- [ ] Court records verified via UniCourt
- [ ] Case documents (demand letter, complaint) are professionally drafted
- [ ] Timeline of events is clear and consistent
- [ ] Damages are quantified and supported by evidence
Litigant Quality & Commitment
- [ ] Active profile with community engagement (comments, contributions)
- [ ] Realistic funding goal aligned with case complexity
- [ ] Campaign narrative is coherent and compelling
- [ ] Litigant responds to questions promptly
- [ ] History of platform use (not a one-off case)
- [ ] Willingness to follow funder guidance
Legal Strategy & Representation
- [ ] Case type matches your funding criteria
- [ ] Jurisdiction is favorable or acceptable
- [ ] Statute of limitations not expired
- [ ] Attorney is retained (if required by your fund)
- [ ] Legal strategy is sound and achievable
- [ ] Settlement authority is clear
Financial & Recovery Analysis
- [ ] Funding amount is proportional to likely recovery
- [ ] Defendant has collectible assets or insurance
- [ ] Budget allocates funds efficiently across services
- [ ] No red flags in expense tracking or financial history
- [ ] Repayment terms (if loan) are realistic
- [ ] Exit strategy is defined (settlement, trial, appeal)
Getting Started as a Funder
| Your Profile | Recommended Path | First Action |
|---|---|---|
| Established litigation finance firm | Create institutional Case Fund | Set up your organization |
| Nonprofit legal fund | Advertise grant opportunities | Advertise your Case Fund |
| Angel investor exploring legal claims | Browse active campaigns | Search for cases |
| Law firm offering contingency | Find cases needing representation | Filter by pro se litigants |
| Foundation funding impact litigation | Connect with movements | Search for movements |
Support & Resources
Need help getting started?
- Technical support - Full documentation library
- Search tools - Find cases and campaigns
- Bookmark cases - Save interesting opportunities
- Review search history - Track your deal flow research
- Multi-language support - Platform available in multiple languages
Ready to start funding cases on Laymans?
Create Your Organization Profile | Advertise Your Case Fund | Search for Cases